7 cool treats to eat in New Orleans

Aguas frescas, Frozen custard, Sno-balls and more.

A sno-ball is the ultimate cool-down concoction in and around the Crescent City, perched indefinitely in the top of to-eat-in-New-Orleans lists, alongside po-boys, gumbo and crawfish. Like other items on that list, sno-balls — and what makes one "the best" — are hotly debated. Which stand has the best syrup? Are the servings a good size? Which one has the best ice? What constitutes good ice anyway?

Other inexpensive refreshing treats in the area — hucklebucks, aguas frescas, Korean shaved ice, frozen custard, Popsicles, bubble tea — aren't contenders for the sno-ball's position but rather fodder for questions, the primary one being, "Where can I find it?"

To answer those questions one must venture into many neighborhoods — and carry cash.

• Mr. Bubbles Sandwich House (925 Behrman Hwy., Gretna; 504-570-6377) – Flavors like strawberry, peach and watermelon are available for boba tea newbies, but flavors like durian, jackfruit and pennywort are available for the pros.

• Rolls N Bowls (605 Metairie Road, Metairie, 504-309-0519; www.facebook.com/rollsnbowlsnola) – Varieties of bubble tea are blended in house and given names like the Southern Belle, which is a blend of peach, lychee and banana.

Frozen custard

• 4th Street Treats (415 Fourth St., Bridge City, 504-644-4786) – The difference between ice cream and frozen custard is that frozen custard is made with eggs, in addition to cream and sugar.

• Lickety Split's Sweet Shop (1043 Poland Ave., 504-304-7080; www.facebook.com/licketysplitsnola) — The '50s diner-themed shop offers a sour watermelon flavor, the Calliope pop, named after the slang term for watermelon slice lollipops that were popular around 1996.

• Sal's Sno-Balls (1823 Metairie Ave., Metairie, 504-666-1823) – Sal's list of flavors is limited and includes the elusive white chocolate and chips flavor. The snow is flaky with no lumps.

• Screamin' Meanies Snowballs and More (128 Packenham Ave., Chalmette) – There's a drive-through window, and slightly tart flavors like strawberry lemonade or boysenberry work great with the super-soft ice.

• Snow World (629 Behrman Hwy., Gretna) – The sugar-free sno-balls are perfect substitutes for the real thing and come in popular flavors like wedding cake and ice cream.

• Stop Jockin' Sno-Ball Stand (3600 St. Bernard Ave., 504-288-9585) – The ice is soft but stands up to syrup at this combination barbershop/beauty salon/sno-ball stand. Tropical sunrise is a house-made flavor that's fruity but not too sweet.